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New multiplex opening in Chicago’s South Loop area

CHICAGO, IL — With the cinemas planned for the Block 37 project up in the air, the opening of the sixteen-screen Showplace ICON theater at Roosevelt Place will be welcome news to those who had been looking forward to having more movie choices in downtown Chicago. Located at Clark and Roosevelt, the screen all have stadium seating. There is a cocktail bar in the lobby and a VIP screening room.

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Comments (3)

I saw ‘Nine’ here just recently; it’s a a very fine theater, with a very attentive staff. The auditorium I was in (No. 16) was large by contemporary standards, with a large wall-to-wall, slightly curved screen, sharp projection, and great sound. No pre-show ads. There was a staff person at each auditorium entrance and others stationed throughout the complex who were very welcoming. The only minus, which may be temporary, is the location, which is in what seems to be in a rather out-of-the way place; I am sure that right now, many cabbies wouldn’t know how to take you there. There is no marquee and at least as of now, very little exterior signage at all. Right now the main entrance is about halfway down a driveway off of Roosevelt. The entry looks like that of an office building. After entering you are greeted by a staff member, but aside from some ticket kiosks and a poster case, it does not look much like a theater lobby. Once you go up the escalator though, the upper lobby space is indeed huge. But from the theater, there doesn’t seem to be much in the Roosevelt Collection at the moment, though it is a massive building and finishing work is still going on.

I saw Avatar 3D opening weekend, and it certainly is an impressive megaplex. I got to the theater 9 minutes late, but already had my ticket. I was expecting to still get there during the ads, or at least the trailers. Only afterwards did I find out that they run NO ads. A very nice touch, unless you’re expecting them (that was my mistake). Also, the seats are assigned, but they show you on a floorplan all the available seats and you get to pick. Prices were higher than AMC, but they did say there was an additional fee for the 3D screening. The cinemas coming to Block 37 are Muvicos, and last I heard they will still be there, it just took some more negotiations. Icon and Muvico are more competitors to each other than AMC. AMC barely mentions digital and seemingly only does so in relation to 3D films. Muvico and Icon are ALL digital. AMC’s decor is also fairly tame, whereas Muvico and Icon have both gone all out to be classical and modern, respectively. Both are great cinemas and I can’t wait to go back and enjoy my next ALL digital screening at either place, except AMC.